8.8 The gospel reveals the righteousness of Christ in us
As Christians, we believe in the gospel. But what is the gospel? What is the central message of the gospel? This is the foundation of our faith – so we must know what the gospel is about.
We usually say that the gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ. Or it is about receiving salvation through Christ. Or it is about Jesus washing away our sins. That is all true. But let us share one powerful verse that tells us the message of the gospel.
(Romans 1:16-17)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS REVEALED from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
The above verse tells us that the gospel of Christ reveals the righteousness of God in us. It says that the just (the righteous) shall live by faith. This means that we receive the righteousness of God as a gift by faith in the New Covenant. Therefore, the gospel has nothing to do with the righteousness of man that comes through the law.
Why is this truth important for us in our daily lives? If we live by the law, we will always be trying to be righteous and we will always feel inadequate. We may be up one day, and down the other. Our fellowship with God fluctuates. The law makes us feel unworthy or inadequate to come before God. We end up being far from God. Christianity is a constant struggle. We often feel dry and many become backslidden. It feels like being in Mt. Sinai – the desert.
When we live by faith in His gift of righteousness, our dependence is on Jesus. We will experience a Christ centered Christianity rather than a self-centered one. Our state of righteousness is at a constant. Our relationship with God is steady. Because we are righteous, we receive new desires to live righteously. Even when we fall down, or when we feel unworthy, the righteousness of Christ can lift us up very quickly. You can enter boldly to the throne of grace through Jesus. We end up loving Jesus and growing closer to God. We are always rested in Christ and we draw from His abundance. It feels like being in the promised land of milk and honey.
The key to Christian living is in Rom 1:17. This is the famous verse that led to the Reformation – “the just shall live by faith.” It talks about us – the righteous who lives by faith in Christ. Our life is in a constant state of dependence on Christ through faith. Every morning, when we wake up, we put our faith that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21). We walk out boldly to face the challenges in life with Christ. We walk in His righteousness. This is the gospel of Christ.
We usually say that the gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ. Or it is about receiving salvation through Christ. Or it is about Jesus washing away our sins. That is all true. But let us share one powerful verse that tells us the message of the gospel.
(Romans 1:16-17)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS REVEALED from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
The above verse tells us that the gospel of Christ reveals the righteousness of God in us. It says that the just (the righteous) shall live by faith. This means that we receive the righteousness of God as a gift by faith in the New Covenant. Therefore, the gospel has nothing to do with the righteousness of man that comes through the law.
Why is this truth important for us in our daily lives? If we live by the law, we will always be trying to be righteous and we will always feel inadequate. We may be up one day, and down the other. Our fellowship with God fluctuates. The law makes us feel unworthy or inadequate to come before God. We end up being far from God. Christianity is a constant struggle. We often feel dry and many become backslidden. It feels like being in Mt. Sinai – the desert.
When we live by faith in His gift of righteousness, our dependence is on Jesus. We will experience a Christ centered Christianity rather than a self-centered one. Our state of righteousness is at a constant. Our relationship with God is steady. Because we are righteous, we receive new desires to live righteously. Even when we fall down, or when we feel unworthy, the righteousness of Christ can lift us up very quickly. You can enter boldly to the throne of grace through Jesus. We end up loving Jesus and growing closer to God. We are always rested in Christ and we draw from His abundance. It feels like being in the promised land of milk and honey.
The key to Christian living is in Rom 1:17. This is the famous verse that led to the Reformation – “the just shall live by faith.” It talks about us – the righteous who lives by faith in Christ. Our life is in a constant state of dependence on Christ through faith. Every morning, when we wake up, we put our faith that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21). We walk out boldly to face the challenges in life with Christ. We walk in His righteousness. This is the gospel of Christ.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 10:07 PM
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